Lookdown enable/disable for detectors

ABSTRACT

An intrusion detector comprises a housing including a cover and baseplate mounting a circuit board. The cover and baseplate are removably mountable to a base. A motion sensor and bracket are mounted to the circuit board. The cover has a lower lookdown window. A lookdown enable/disable actuator extends from a rear side of the circuit board and is accessible through the baseplate. The actuator is operable to move a door pivotally mounted to the bracket between an on position to enable a lookdown function and an off position to disable the lookdown function. The detector is normally mounted on a wall by securing the base to the wall. The cover and baseplate can be removed from the base. A screwdriver can be used to turn the actuator. The cover and baseplate can then be remounted to the base.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not Applicable.

FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable.

MICROFICHE/COPYRIGHT REFERENCE

Not Applicable.

FIELD

This application relates generally to intrusion detectors and, moreparticularly, to apparatus for selectively enabling and disabling alookdown function.

BACKGROUND

Home security and monitoring systems have become commonplace as peopleseek to protect themselves and their property. Home security systemstypically employ sensors at entry points, such as windows and doors,along with interior sensors such as motion detectors. The motiondetectors may use infrared and/or microwave signals to detect motionproximate the detector. Typically, the detector includes a lens in thecover for detecting motion in an area in front of the detector.Intrusion detectors may include a lookdown function with a lenspositioned in the bottom of the cover for detecting motion beneath thedetector.

In some applications it may be necessary or desired to disable thelookdown function. Traditionally, there are two methods to disable thelookdown function. The first method uses a black thin label to mask thelookdown window. In order to enable the lookdown function it isnecessary to disassemble the detector, remove the label, then reassemblethe detector. The second method uses a rubber band to mask the lookdownmirror. To enable the lookdown function, it is necessary to disassemblethe detector, remove the band from the mirror, then reassemble thedetector. Both the label and rubber band are removed from the detectorsand stored outside of the detectors.

There are two shortcomings with these methods. One, it is necessary tofully disassemble the detector, remove the label or rubber band, thenreassemble the detector. This operation can be complicated and alsoexposes the internal circuitry. Secondly, there is a need to store thelabel or rubber band outside of the detector in the event it isnecessary to later disable the lookdown function. However, once outsidethe detectors, the label or rubber band may be easy to lose.

SUMMARY

As described herein, an intrusion detector comprises a housing includinga circuit board having front and rear sides and a cover mounting thecircuit board to cover the front side and to define an interior space.The cover has a lower lookdown window. A bracket is mounted to the frontside of the circuit board. The bracket has opposite side walls with oneof the side walls having a pair of pivot tabs at a lower end defining anaxis perpendicular with the circuit board and aligned with an opening inthe circuit board. A motion sensor is mounted to the circuit boardbetween the bracket opposite side walls and aligned to detect motionvisible through the lower lookdown window. A door is hingedly mounted tothe pivot tabs. An actuator is located at the rear side of the circuitboard and is connected to the door through the opening. The actuator isoperable to move the door between an on position to enable a lookdownfunction, and an off position to disable the lookdown function.

It is a feature that in the on position the door extends between theside walls to mask the motion sensor relative to the lower lookdownwindow.

It is another feature that the motion sensor is angularly mountedrelative to the circuit board to sense motion in front of and below thecover and the cover includes a front lens.

It is another feature that the pivot tabs are parallel to the circuitboard and include aligned pivot openings and the door includes a rodextending through the pivot openings. The rod extends through thecircuit board opening and is received in the actuator.

It is a further feature that the actuator moves the door about 115°between the on and off positions.

It is yet another feature that the actuator includes a slot accessiblefrom the rear side of the circuit board for receiving a driver tool.

It is an additional feature that the door comprises a generallyrectangular plate and a rod connected to one end of the plate. The rodextends through the circuit board opening and pivotally engages thepivot tabs. The rod may have a squared end received in a squared notchin the actuator.

It is still a further feature that a housing base is mountable to a walland the cover is removably mounted to the housing base. A baseplate maybe mounted to the cover to overly the circuit board.

It is yet another feature that the door and side walls are configured sothat in the off position the motion sensor is surrounded on three sidesand detects motion only from in front of the cover.

Other features and advantages will be apparent from a review of theentire specification, including the appended claims and drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an intrusion detector having a lookdownenable and disable function;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the intrusion detector of FIG. 1 with apart cut away to illustrate the structure implementing the lookdownenable and disable function;

FIG. 3 is a rear view of a cover and backplate of the intrusion detectorof FIG. 1 removed to access a lookdown function actuator;

FIG. 4 is an exploded view of the intrusion detector of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a lookdown door in an off position;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the lookdown door in an on position;

FIG. 7 is a rear view of the sensor assembly illustrating the actuatorand door; and

FIG. 8 is a sectional view of the intrusion detector illustrating thesensor assembly.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 illustrates an intrusion detector 10 having a lookdown functionwhich can be selectively enabled or disabled, as described moreparticularly below. The intrusion detector 10 includes a housing 12including a base 14 and a cover 16. The base 14 is adapted to be wallmounted in any known manner with the cover 16 selectively removabletherefrom, as generally illustrated in FIG. 3. The housing 12 alsoincludes a baseplate 18 removably mounted to the cover 16 to define aninterior space 20, see FIG. 2. When the cover 16 is removed from thebase 14, the baseplate 18 remains secured to the cover 16 but cansubsequently be removed therefrom.

Referring to FIG. 4, a terminal block 22, defining a receptacle, isprovided for electrical connection to external control apparatus. Theterminal block 22 mounts to the base 14. The base 14 is selectivelymounted to a wall. When the cover 16 is mounted to the base 14electrical connections are made to circuitry mounted to the baseplate18, as described below.

The baseplate 18 is of a size to be received within the cover 16, asshown in FIG. 3. The baseplate includes tabs 28 at a lower end and alatch 30 at an upper end.

A printed circuit board 32 is mounted to the baseplate 18 using tabs 34.The circuit board 18 includes a front side 24 and a rear side 26. Thecircuit board 32 includes circuits for controlling operation of theintrusion detector 10 and pins 36 that plug into the terminal block 22incident to the cover 16 being mounted to the base 14. A microwavemodule 38 is mounted to the printed circuit board 32 and is secured bythe latch 30 and forms part of the electrical circuit. A sensor assembly40 is also mounted to the front side 24 the circuit board 32. The sensorassembly 40 includes a motion sensor 42, a bracket 44, a lookdown door46, and a lookdown actuator 48. The motion sensor assembly 42 is used tosense motion and provide a signal to the electrical circuitry toselectively indicate an alarm condition, as is known. This applicationis not directed to the electrical circuit per se, but rather tostructure for selectively enabling the lookdown function. Thus, theelectrical circuit is not described herein.

The cover 16 is of a size to be received on the base 14. The cover 16includes a peripheral wall 50 connected to a front wall 52. The frontwall 52 has a front opening 54. A bottom end 55 of the peripheral wall50 includes a lookdown opening 56. A front lens 58 is selectivelyreceived in the front opening 54 and a lookdown lens 60 is selectivelyreceived in the lookdown opening 56. Particularly, both lenses 58 and 60are mounted to a bug guard 62. The bug guard 62 is adapted to provide anopen space, within the interior space 20, see FIG. 2, between the lenses58 and 60 and the sensor assembly 40. As such, the sensor assembly 40 iseffectively shielded from the outside so that only motion visiblethrough the lenses 58 and 60 is detected thereby. The cover 16 includesupper tabs 64 for engaging the base 14 and a flexible latch 66 used forselectively removing the cover 16 from the base 14, as will be apparent.

As is apparent, the housing 12 could include alternative configurations,as necessary.

The sensor assembly 40 is illustrated in greater detail in FIGS. 5-8.The bracket 44 comprises a rear wall 70 and opposite side walls 72 and74. The first side wall 72 includes a pair of pivot tabs 76 and 78 at alower end 80 defining an axis “A”, see FIG. 8, aligned with an opening82 in the baseplate 18 and an opening 83 in the circuit board 32. Thepivot tabs 76 and 78 are parallel to the circuit board 32 and includerespective pivot openings 84 and 86.

The lookdown door 46 comprises a generally rectangular plate 88 integralwith a rod 90. The rod 90 is selectively mounted in the pivot openings84 and 86. The rod 90 includes a squared rear end 92 receivable in asquared notch 94 of the actuator 48. The actuator 48 includes a slot 96for accessing with a drive tool, such as a screwdriver.

The motion sensor 42 is mounted to the bracket rear wall 70 between theside walls 72 and 74. The motion sensor 42 is angularly mounted so thatit can detect motion through both the lookdown lens 60 and the frontlens 58. The motion sensor 42 is then soldered to the circuit board 32.The rod 90 extends through the circuit board opening 83 and is securedto the actuator 48. The circuit board 32, including the bracket 44 andthe motion sensor 42, is then mounted to the baseplate 18. The actuator48 is accessible through the baseplate opening 82. The baseplate 18 isthen mounted to the cover 16. The resultant assembly is illustrated inFIG. 3. The cover 16 can then be mounted to the base 14 as shown inFIGS. 1 and 2.

As described above, the actuator 48 is mounted to the rod 90 of the door46. The rod 90 is also pivotally mounted to the pivot tabs 76 and 78.The actuator 48 is accessible at the rear of the baseplate 18, see FIGS.3, and 8, and is selectively rotated to move the door 46 between an “on”position to enable a lookdown function, see FIG. 6, and an “off”position to disable the lookdown function, see FIG. 5. Particularly, inthe “off” position the plate 88 extends between the side walls 72 and 74so that the motion sensor 42 is masked relative to the lookdown lens 60.In the “on” position, the motion sensor 42 is not masked, and thus thelookdown lens 60 is visible. The door 46 is movable in a range of about115°, as is illustrated comparing FIGS. 5 and 6, to provide a widerangle of visibility through the lookdown lens 60.

With the described structure, the lookdown function can be enabled ordisabled simply by removing the cover 16 from the base 14, as shown inFIG. 3, to expose the baseplate 18. In this position, the actuator 48 isvisible to the user and can be rotated to move the door 46. The actuator48 includes an indicator tab 98 which points to “ON” or “OFF” indicatorson the baseplate 18. Thus, the lookdown function can be enabled ordisabled without having to expose the electrical circuitry or the sensor42, and the cover 16 can then be remounted to the base 14.

Thus, as described, the intrusion detector 10 comprises a housing 12including a cover 16 and baseplate 18 mounting a circuit board 32. Thecover 16 and baseplate 18 are removably mountable to a base 14. A motionsensor 42 and bracket 44 are mounted to the circuit board 32. The cover16 has a lower lookdown window 60. A lookdown enable/disable actuator 48extends from a rear side 26 of the circuit board 32 and is accessiblethrough the baseplate 18. The actuator 48 is operable to move a door 46pivotally mounted to the bracket 44 between an on position to enable alookdown function and an off position to disable the lookdown function.The detector 10 is normally mounted on a wall by securing the base 14 tothe wall. The cover 16 and baseplate 18 can be removed from the base 14,while the base 14 remains secured to the wall. A screwdriver can be usedto turn the actuator 48. The cover 16 and baseplate 18 can then beremounted to the base 14.

In the illustrated embodiment, the motion sensor 42 comprises a dualtechnology sensor using infrared and microwave sensing. Alternatively,the motion sensor 42 could use passive infrared sensing. The structurefor enabling and disabling the lookdown function is not intended to belimited to any particular form of motion sensor.

It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that there are manypossible modifications to be made to the specific forms of the featuresand components of the disclosed embodiments while keeping within thespirit of the concepts disclosed herein. Accordingly, no limitations tothe specific forms of the embodiments disclosed herein should be readinto the claims unless expressly recited in the claims. Although asingle embodiment has been described in detail above, othermodifications are possible. For example, other components may be addedto, or removed from, the described devices. Other embodiments may bewithin the scope of the following claims.

1. An intrusion detector comprising: a housing enclosing a circuit boardhaving front and rear sides and a cover mounting the circuit board tocover the front side and to define an interior space, the cover having alower lookdown window; a bracket mounted to the front side of thecircuit board, the bracket having opposite side walls with one of thesidewalls having a pair of pivot tabs at a lower end defining an axisperpendicular with the circuit board and aligned with an opening in thecircuit board; a motion sensor mounted to the circuit board between thebracket opposite side walls and aligned to detect motion visible throughthe lower lookdown window; a door hingedly mounted to the pivot tabs;and an actuator located at the rear side of the circuit board andoperatively connected to the door through the opening, the actuatorbeing operable to move the door between an on position to enable alookdown function and an off position to disable the lookdown function.2. The intrusion detector of claim 1 wherein in the off position thedoor extends between the side walls to mask the motion sensor relativeto the lower lookdown window.
 3. The intrusion detector of claim 1wherein the motion sensor is angularly mounted relative to the circuitboard to sense motion in front of and below the cover and the coverincludes a front lens.
 4. The intrusion detector of claim 1 wherein thepivot tabs are parallel to the circuit board and include aligned pivotopenings and the door includes a rod extending through the pivotopenings.
 5. The intrusion detector of claim 4 wherein the rod extendsthrough the circuit board opening and is received in the actuator. 6.The intrusion detector of claim 1 wherein the actuator moves the doorabout 115 degrees between the on and off positions.
 7. The intrusiondetector of claim 1 wherein the actuator includes a slot accessible fromthe rear side of the circuit board for receiving a driver tool.
 8. Theintrusion detector of claim 1 wherein the door comprises a generallyrectangular plate and a rod connected to one end of the plate.
 9. Theintrusion detector of claim 8 wherein the rod extends through thecircuit board opening.
 10. The intrusion detector of claim 8 wherein therod pivotally engages the pivot tabs.
 11. The intrusion detector ofclaim 9 wherein the rod has a squared end received in a squared notch inthe actuator.
 12. The intrusion detector of claim 1 further comprising ahousing base mountable to a wall and the cover is removably mountable tothe housing base.
 13. The intrusion detector of claim 12 furthercomprising a baseplate removably mounted to the cover to overly thecircuit board.
 14. The intrusion detector of claim 1 wherein the doorand side walls are configured so that in the off position the motionsensor is surrounded on three sides and detects motion only from infront of the cover.